This Indian-inspired Yellow Rice recipe is so fluffy and flavorful. Its vibrant color comes from ground turmeric, an anti-inflammatory spice. Make this healthy side dish in less than 30 minutes! This recipe is naturally gluten-free and vegan.

An Indian Rice Dish served with golden raisins and cashews.

This Indian Yellow Rice recipe is naturally gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan, and full of amazing flavor!

While this easy yellow rice may be a slightly Americanized version of traditional Indian cuisine, it’s still yummy and pairs well with other Indian-inspired recipes such as this Coconut Lentil Curry!

Why You Need This Recipe

  • Yellow rice contains turmeric which is proven to be an anti-inflammatory spice. It is a common spice in Indian cooking.
  • The chopped cashews on top add crunch and even more healthy nutrition.
  • Serve this satisfying side dish with almost any main dish recipe. Or, add some lean protein or garbanzo beans to make this a main dish in itself!

Key Ingredients

labeled ingredient photo for indian yellow rice dish
  • Reduced sodium vegetable broth adds so much flavor to this rice dish. You can use chicken broth if you aren’t on a vegan or vegetarian diet.
  • Long-grain basmati white rice is the perfect texture of rice. Don’t buy short-grain or quick rice for this recipe, basmati rice is best (as an alternative, you could use long grain rice like jasmine rice).
  • Ground turmeric adds that vibrant yellow color that gives Yellow Rice its name.
  • Golden raisins (or regular raisins) add some natural sweetness and a chewy texture.
  • Extra spices like cinnamon and cumin seeds add an authentic flair to this Indian-inspired recipe.
  • Cashews add crunch when served on top of the finished dish.

Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.

How to Make This Recipe

process collage with photos on how to make the yellow rice

Step One

Rinse your long-grain white rice grains in a fine-mesh sieve. Let the water run until it’s clear.

Step Two

Bring rice and cold water or vegetable broth to a boil in a medium saucepan on the stove top.

Step Three

Add remaining ingredients except for the cashews and cook 15-20 minutes.

See the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact measurements.

Step Four

Fluff the Indian Yellow Rice and top with cashews before serving.

I hope you agree that this Turmeric Rice recipe is the best rice you’ve ever had.

Fluff the yellow rice in the saucepan.

Is Yellow Rice Healthy?

  • White rice sometimes gets a bad rap, but white rice tends to be easier to digest than brown rice. For this reason, white rice is sometimes even included in paleo diets as a “safe starch.”
  • You can lower the glycemic effect of white rice by eating it with lots of high-fiber vegetables and a clean protein like tandoori chicken.
  • White rice is also a very low allergenic food, so it is appropriate for a lot of people with food sensitivities.

Recipe Tips

  • Rinse the rice before cooking. This removes starch from the surface of the rice and prevents the grains from becoming too sticky when cooked.
  • If you don’t have a cinnamon stick, you can use 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon instead. You can also use curry powder instead of turmeric powder, although your rice will have a stronger flavor.
  • Don’t add the cashews until just before serving. This will help keep them nice and crunchy!
  • Store any leftovers in a sealed airtight container in the fridge for up to five days.

Recipe FAQs

I don’t have golden raisins. Can I use regular raisins?

Yes, absolutely!

I don’t have cumin seeds. Can I use ground cumin?

Yes, just substitute 1/2 teaspoon of ground cumin for the cumin seeds.

Can I use the pressure cooker for this recipe?

Yes, see my recipe for Instant Pot Yellow Rice.

Can I make this recipe in a rice cooker?

Yes, you can.

yellow rice served in a bowl with cashews on top

More Healthy Side Dish Recipes You Might Like

Don’t Miss These Other Indian-Inspired Recipes!

Easy Instant Pot Red Lentil Dal Recipe

Simple Curry Chicken Recipe Using Coconut Milk

Chicken Sweet Potato Curry (Slow Cooker or Stovetop)

Instant Pot Chicken Curry with Potatoes & Carrots

I hope you make this recipe! If you do, please leave a comment and a starred review below.

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indian yellow rice in bowl

Indian Yellow Rice (Gluten-Free & Vegan)

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5 from 10 reviews

Print Recipe

This Indian-inspired Yellow Rice recipe is so fluffy and flavorful. Its vibrant color comes from ground turmeric, an anti-inflammatory spice. Make this healthy side dish in less than 30 minutes!

  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 cup long-grain basmati white rice
  • 2 cups reduced-sodium vegetable broth
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup golden raisins
  • 1/4 cup chopped cashews

Instructions

  1. Place the rice in a fine-mesh sieve and rinse it under cool, running water.
  2. Pour the rinsed rice into a medium saucepan. Add the vegetable broth and turn the heat to high.
  3. Once the mixture comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low. Stir in the turmeric, cinnamon, cumin seeds, salt, pepper, and raisins.
  4. Cover the pot and let it cook for 15-20 minutes. The rice is done when it has absorbed all of the liquid. 
  5. Use a fork to gently fluff the rice. Sprinkle the cashews on top and serve warm. 

Notes

  1. You can use water or vegetable broth to cook the rice. The vegetable broth will give more flavor to the dish than using water.
  2. Store any leftover rice in a tightly-sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat before serving.
  3. If you don’t have a cinnamon stick, you can use ¼ teaspoon of ground cinnamon instead.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
  • Calories: 125
  • Sugar: 2.1 g
  • Sodium: 185.4 mg
  • Fat: 0.2 g
  • Saturated Fat: 0.1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 27.9 g
  • Fiber: 0.7 g
  • Protein: 2.3 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

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About the Author: Carrie Forrest has a master’s degree in public health with a specialty in nutrition and is a certified holistic nutritionist. She is a top wellness and food blogger with over 5 million annual visitors to her site. Carrie has an incredible story of recovery from chronic illness and is passionate about helping other women transform their health. Send her a message through her contact form.